North County: new chefs, décor, menus

Six restaurants serve up something fresh for Valentine's Day

Some of the new tapas at Twenty/20 Grill and Wine Bar in Carlsbad, clockwise from top, charred octopus with seasonal vegetables, shrimp a la plancha with chili and lemon and bacon-wrapped dates with Cabrales blue cheese and piquillo pepper tomato sauce. CREDIT: Twenty/20

Some of the new tapas at Twenty/20 Grill and Wine Bar in Carlsbad, clockwise from top, charred octopus with seasonal vegetables, shrimp a la plancha with chili and lemon and bacon-wrapped dates with Cabrales blue cheese and piquillo pepper tomato sauce. CREDIT: Twenty/20

Veranda Fireside Lounge & Restaurant

Rancho Bernardo Inn’s indoor/outdoor Mediterranean-meets-California cafe has all of chef Nicolas Bour’s attention this winter while the Inn’s main dining room, the former El Bizcocho, is transformed into Avant (opening in May). Veranda’s serving a four-course prix-fixe dinner for Valentine’s Day, but the rest of the week, try Bour’s Daily Delights: “Chili and Brew” nights on Mondays; Tuesday taco nights; prime rib on Wednesdays; live music and small bites on Thursdays; and Staccato Suppers, with a three-course prix-fixe menu and live jazz, on Fridays.

Kitchen 1540

Chef Scott Dolbee’s plays with flavor, texture, seasoning and classics, and his winter menu has some old favorites (the In-N-Out-inspired Animal steak dish) and some lively new takes on lamb and game hen. But check out his wintry Wild Boar, prepared with black kale, black mole, white chocolate and chili nut granola. The new L’Happy Hour (4:30-6:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays in the bar) features high-end cocktails hand-mixed tableside with half-priced flatbreads and cheese boards.

tip

of the week

The newly renovated Flower Hill Promenade will celebrate its grand opening Feb. 27- March 3 with live entertainment, food samples and 200 tote bags for the first patrons visiting the plaza each day, starting at noon. 2720 Via De La Valle, Del Mar. (858) 481-2904 or